Switch-contact mechanism



Oct.'28, 1930. T R H FF 1,779,659

SWITCH CONTACT MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 9, 1924 Fig. 1.

Inventor Eugene R. Carichoff Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT 'omE-,.

noel-ma n. cmcaorr, or scnnnnc'ramr, new Yoax, assrenon To GENERA mo- Taro COMPANY, a conrona'rron or raw Yonx SWITCH-CONTACT MECHANISM Original application fled February 9, 1824, Serial No. 691,797. Divided and this December 10, 1924.

This invention has for its object the provision of an improved switch contact mechanism in which a circuit controlling contact is yieldingly supported so as to be self aligning and also is arranged so as to be readily removed from its support for renewal or renism which may be inexpensively manufactured and easily assembled in a switch of the above type as well as readily maintained 20 in operative condition during service.

The invention may be carried into efi'ect in a preferred form as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a side elevation of an electromagnetic switch pro- 25 vided with a contact mechanism embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the disassembled parts of the contact 17 mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

The novel features and combinations which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

Referring to Fig. 1, the electromagnet switch illustrated is of the type fully described and claimed in my said application and comprises essentially a base 'of suitable insulating material such as slate or the like upon which is mounted the stationary contact member 11 and an operating electromagnet 12 having a pivotally mounted armature 13 carrying the movable contact mechanism 14.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 2, the contact mechanism 14 comprises the substantial- 16 and the movable circuit controlling contact member 17. It will'be observed that the supporting strip has the left end hooked or curved to form an open cylindrical bearin 18 and the right end bent up to 'form a hoo ed 1y L shaped supporting strip 15, the spring application fled Serial No. 755,063. a

stop 19 with the open side of the hooked stop in the same relative direction as the opening in the cylindricalbearing. The contact 17 is provided with. a channel member. 20 into which is inserted the cross pin 21 andthe bent arm 22 is secured to the reverse side of contact 17 by means of avscrew 23. Thus the arm 22 and contact 17 form a substantially L-shaped contact piece that is complementary to the L-shaped support 15. These parts are so designed that the cross pin 21 may be readily inserted in the open cylindrical bearing 18 of the supporting strip 15, the arm 22 engaged with the open side of the bent up hooked stop 19, and the compression spring 16 interposed between the inner side of the stop and an intermediate portion of the contact 17 so as to maintain the-cross pin 21 and the arm 22 in yielding hooked engagement with the supporting strip 15. In order to hold the spring 16 in its operative position the supporting strip 15 is provided with a suitable boss 24. for engaging one end'of the spring 16 and the head of screw 23 serves to maintain the other end of the spring in proper engagement with the movable contact It will be evident, however, that the location of the open cylindrical bearing 18 and the pin 21 may be interchanged if desired by providing the contact member 17 with an end suitably curved to form an open bearing and mounting the cooperating pin 21 on the supporting strip 15 instead of on the contact 17 as shown.

To enable my improved contact mechanism tobe readily mounted in operative position upon the pivoted armature 13, as shown in Fig. 1, one leg of the substantially .L-sha ed supporting strip15 may be provided'wit a suitable hole 25, to receive the screw 26 and may carry a downwardly projecting rivet 27 for engaging a cooperating opening in the armature 13 to maintain the contact mechanism 14 in proper alignment therewith. The movable contact 17 may readily be connected to a stationary terminal 28 mounted on base 10 by means of a flexible conductor 29 as indicated in the drawing.

If desired the electromagnetic switch support 19, thereby preventing shown in Fig. 1 may be provided with any of the usual types of arc suppressing arrangements to permit the switch to interrupt high power electric circuits. In this connection it will be observed that the bent arm 22 serves effectively-as an arcing horn for the movable contact member 17 and thereby effectively protects the spring 16 as well as the other operative parts of the contact-mechanism from destructive arcs. For example, with any of the usual forms of magnetic blowout coils located adjacent the contacts 11 and 17 the are drawn upon the disengagement of the contacts may be blown out over the tip of the contact 17 and carried to, the arm 22. The arm 22, however, shields the spring)16 and the urning or fusing of these parts.

From the foregoing it will be evident that upon the attraction of armature 13 by electromagnet 12, the contact mechanism 14 will be carried into engagement with the stationary contact 11 and the closing force exerted upon the contact 17 will cause the spring 16 to yield and permit the contact 17 to adjust itself in any direction necessary to establish uniform contact with the stationary contact 11 without restraint by the supporting strip 15. This feature is of great practical importance when my improved contact mechanism is applied to the control of heavy duty electric circuits.

It will be evident also that the operating parts of my improved switch contact mechanism may be readily disassembled for renewal or repairs. Thus by sufliciently compressing the spring 16 the contact 17 may be disengaged from the supporting strip 15 and further disassembled to permit renewal or repair of any defective part in an obvious manner.

In accordance with the provision of the patent statutes I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention in order to explain the principle thereof, but I would have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A contact mechanism for an electric switch comprising a substantially L-shaped supporting strip having each end hooked with the opening of the hooked ends in the same relative direction, a complementary L- shaped contact disposed in opposing spaced relation with the supporting strip and provided at each end with means for engaging said hooked ends to positively limit movement of each end of the contact away from the supporting strip, and a compression spring interposed in the space between the said supporting strip and the said contact for maintaining the same in yielding hooked engagement.

2. A contact mechanism for an electric switch comprising a substantially L-shaped supporting strip having one end curved to form an open cylindrical bearing and the other end bent u to form a hooked stop with the opening of t e hook in the same relative direction as the openingof the cylindrical bearing, a contact having at one end means for removably engaging the said bearing and at the other end a hooked arcin horn extending into hooked engagement with the hooked end of said stop to limit movement of the contact away from the supporting strip, and a.- compression spring located between the said supporting strip and the said contact below said arcing horn for maintaining the same in yielding engagement.

3. A contact mechanism for an electric switch comprisin a substantially L-shaped supporting strip Iiaving one end curved to form an open cylindrical bearing and the other end bent up to form a hooked stop, a channel member provided with a cross pin for removably engaging said open cylindrical bearing, a contact having one end secured to the said channel and the other end provided with an arcing horn arranged to engage the outer side of said stop to limit movement of the contact away from the supporting strip, and a compression spring engaging the inner side of said stop and an intermediate portion of said contact below said arcing horn for maintaining the said pin and arcing horn in yielding engagement with said support.

4. A contact mechanism for an electric switch comprising a substantially L shaped movable contact member and a cooperating substantially L shaped supporting member disposed in opposing spaced relation with the end of one leg of each member booked and arranged to removably engage the end of the other leg of the cooperating member, and a spring interposed in the space between the other legs of the respective members for maintaining the same in yielding hooked engagement.

5. A contact mechanism for an electric switch comprising a contact, a support formed with a hook at one end for removably engaging a cooperating end of the contact with the contact disposed in opposing spaced relation with the support, an arcing horn extending from the other end of the contact and hooked over to engage the support to limit movement of the contact therefrom, and a compression spring interposed between the contact and the support for maintaining the contact in hooked engagement therewith and yielding topermit the contact to be moved toward the support and disengaged therefrom.

6. A contact mechanism for an electric switch comprising a supporting strip, a contact disposed in opposing spaced relation therewith and having an arcing horn extending from one end thereof into hooked engagement with one end of said supportin strip,

a compression spring located between t e supporting strip and the contact and en a 'n therewith intermediate the ends there of fo biasing the same apart, and a releasable hooked connection between the other end of the strip and the contact for holding the spring under compression and providing a pivotal connection between the. contact and the supporting strip.

7 A contact mechanism for an electric switch comprising a substantially L-shaped support, a relatively movable contact supported thereb in opposing spaced relation with one leg 0 the L-shaped sup-port and having an arcing horn extending from one end of the contact into hooked engagement with the end of said one leg of the support, a compression spring located between the contact and the opposing leg of the sup ort, and mechanical connections between t e other ends of the contact and the L-shaped support for maintaining said spring under com ression and providing a pivotal connection etween the contact and the support.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of December, 1924.

EUGENE R. CARICHOFF. 

